Shaun Briscoe was sucked into deep and wide positions to compensate for Tom Briscoe's slow ball recovery - something he's not used to playing alongside Fox. He was fine during the second half when Smith was on his wing.

I love it how despite a 42 point shift in the 2 halves because of Briscoe's omission, FC fans still argue that he should have stayed on - laughable.

the kid looked ok against wales and france, but at this stage in his career, was out of his depth, as a winger he should have got somewhere near inglis when tracking back, but he never. now iam not going to start saying fox would have been better because the centre and wing positions are an extemely weak area of our international game when up against the aussies or nz.

I'm in agreement with the earlier post that next weeks backline will be the one that finished the game , with Smith and Hall on the wings.

Tom briscoe's ball recovery is no slower than most and probably quicker than S Briscoe's (which i think in time coupled with hardly ever breaking the 1st tackle will cost him the FB spot). It was the fact that Smith was moved out of the centre position that sured up our defence not alledgedly eradicating slow kick returns, and let's not forget, a side that is 26 - 0 up at half time is never going to come out with the same intensity.

Ermm all of them, with the help of his centre. One game too far for TB

Oh dear.

Arguing against a 42 point swing - deluded.

who to? jordan tansey!

knob.

I don't know, why was Eastmond given a run out there last week?

To rest Briscoe's shoulder.

now this younster does have talent! forget your tom briscoes of this world eastmond looks at home anywhere in the back line, but to pick him at FB over shaun briscoe? have you had a bang to the head this morning? briscoes defence and organising has taken years to master, things like that don't come overnight. he aint no billy slater, but in comparison all the way down the back line, we are well short.

Briscoe said in the press the shoulder was fine and the switch was tactical.

So why did you ask the question in the first place then?

Yeah, it is so sad that people feel the need to make these silly partisan posts.



You still a big fan of TS?

On a more serious note, would people go with T. Briscoe again next week? I think Eastmond should have the right centre spot, with Westwood coming into the 2nd row to allow Peacock to play prop (wasn't especially impressed with Morley or Graham - Burgess and Crabtree did okay, though). So that leaves Briscoe, Fox and Smith as the possible right wingmen. If T.Smith feels Fox's confidence and form are up to it, I think he is the most natural winger.

Rubbish.
Tom Briscoe has nowhere near Shaun's positional sense at this stage of his career.
Shaun 9 times out of 10 is stood in the right area to collect the ball quickly.

Tom took a knock just a few minutes before HT and was sick.HTH

Briscoe is a great defender, no arguments, just doesn't make the metres coming out of defence like may be some others would. FWIW, i wouldn't swap him for anyone else at this stage.

So what?

Even if that were true the kid just doesn't have the athletic ability to play in the three-quarters at this level.

Be more specific.

Sick of chasing shadows or just sick of spinning.
Reminded me of a film i say when i was young,what was it oh yeh brights eyes

Tom Briscoe does not have the pace to counter long-range threats or neither the agility to turn quick enough to defend short-range kicks which made the Aussie game-plan easy.

In last weeks game against France, Tom Briscoe's lack of agility was exposed when Bosc put a kick through for Pelo and he took an age to turn and it was so obvious to anyone that the Aussie game-plan would be to kick behind Tom Briscoe knowing that by the time he recovered the ball, the defensive line would be smothering him, leaving England on the back foot without any chance of an effective "exit set".

So what??????
You asked the question, why did Tony Smith take him off at HT?
He took a knock just before HT, was physically sick and the lad was clearly in some discomfort.

That's why he did not re-appear for the 2nd half.

I agree, Eastmond changed the game IMO & should be in the team next week. As for the wing spot, I can't see T.Smith dropping L. Smith TBH.

Probably due to the fact it must have been distressing for him to know he was out of his depth.

Take pleasure in seeing players injured do you?